ESCANABA — A proposed cell phone tower at the Escanaba High School baseball field was cleared for takeoff Thursday, despite the tower raising concerns in the community it could interfere with air traffic at the Delta County Airport.

On April 23, the city received a zoning application for a proposed land use variance for a Verizon communication tower at Ness Baseball Field, located at 1619 18th Ave. S. The request was denied on Aug. 16 because the project was not considered a “principal use permitted by right” under the city’s zoning ordinance as required for staff approval. Ton 80 Realty Services, Inc., which requested the variance, appealed the decision, claiming there was no other suitable location within an existing zoning district for the tower.

Because of the limited zoning options available for a site for the tower, city staff agreed a “hardship” was created for Ton 80 Realty and the Escanaba Board of Appeals reversed the decision on Oct. 17. Staff comments included in the appeal request went on to say the field “appears to be a best-case scenario for the placement of a communication tower within this southern area of the City of Escanaba.”

Despite not being directly involved, the Escanaba City Council heard public outcry over the appeal at the Oct. 18 meeting, when residents claimed the tower would interfere with air traffic and could pose a safety risk.

“We were told last night we can’t bring up health risk from this cell tower, OK? I’m not bringing up a health risk. I’m bringing up a life and death risk, and that’s what you’re doing by allowing this is you’re putting my life and everybody I know in that neighborhood at risk,” said Dan Phalen, a pilot who lives near the proposed tower said at the Oct. 18 meeting.

Thursday the council moved to approve a lease agreement with PI Tower Development, LLC for a utility shed necessary to support the tower, but the motion specified the lease would be nullified if the construction of the tower does not commence of any reason or no reason at all.

“The last I heard in writing from (Delta County Airport Manager) TJ Reid at the airport was 95 feet and they’re OK with that. The engineering has designed this down to 95 total feet, so it’s not going to be a problem as far as aircraft goes,” said City Manager Patrick Jordan.

Under the agreement, the city will be guaranteed rent revenue of $439,035 during the 25-year period of the lease. Because the industry average is 2.5 carriers per tower in a community with demographics similar to Escanaba, there is a reasonable possibility the city could take in an additional $150,000 during the lease agreement from other carriers.

In addition to increased cellular service for residents and visitors to the city, the pole will provide an additional light at the field and the city will be able to use the tower for its own utility metering radio equipment in the future.

In other business, the council voted to reschedule the next regular city council meeting, which would have taken place on Nov. 20, for 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12. At that meeting, the council will discuss how to move forward with filling the city clerk/I.T. position created by the resignation of clerk Lisa Glish earlier this year.